Shelf bracket and refrigerator having the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shelf brackets in refrigerators lack sufficient strength to effectively support shelves, leading to potential instability and safety concerns.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a reinforcing portion that integrally extends from the shelf bracket and can be folded to overlap the seating and mounting portions, enhancing the structural integrity by providing additional support through symmetrical hooking and insertion reinforcing features, and coupling protrusions/hole configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional shelf bracket design is used, then device complexity is low, but strength is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf bracket strengthVSAvoidshelf bracket structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf bracket is divided into distinct functional segments: a mounting portion for attachment to the storage chamber, a seating portion for supporting the shelf, and a reinforcing portion that folds to overlap and strengthen these sections. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing portion is designed to fold back and nest within or alongside the mounting and seating portions, creating an overlapping structure that reinforces the bracket without significantly increasing its external dimensions. This nested configuration provides enhanced strength while minimizing space occupation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Strength

If additional fixing methods like welding are used, then strength is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf bracket strengthVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing portion is designed as a dynamic element that can be folded into position during assembly rather than being permanently fixed through welding. This foldable design allows the bracket to be manufactured as a single piece and then configured on-site, eliminating complex welding operations while maintaining structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcing portion serves dual purposes: it provides structural reinforcement and acts as its own fixing mechanism through the folding action. The design inherently creates its own strengthening effect without requiring external fixing processes like welding, thereby simplifying manufacturing while enhancing strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11415365B2Shelf bracket and refrigerator having the same

Publication Date: 2022.08.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a shelf bracket and a refrigerator having the same. The shelf bracket includes a seating portion on which a shelf is seated, a mounting portion provided at a rear side of the seating portion, and a reinforcing portion integrally extending from the shelf bracket and folded to overlap at least one of the seating portion and the mounting portion, so that the strength of the shelf bracket is reinforced by the reinforcing portion.